Leake  and  Watts 
Orphan  House 


1918 


To  reach  the  Institution  take: 

The  Broadway  subway  to  Van  Cortlandt 
Park,  there  the  Yonkers  surface  car  to  Val- 
entine Lane,  then  walk  west  to  Hawthorne 
Avenue; 

or 

The  New  York  Central  Railroad  to  Yonkers 
station,  then  the  Riverdale  Avenue  surface  car 
south  to  Valentine  Lane  and  walk  west  to 
Hawthorne  Avenue; 

or 

The  Putnam  Division  of  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral to  Lowerre  station  and  walk  west. 


Communications  relating  to  the  Home 
may  be  addressed  to 
A.  S.  McClain,  Superintendent, 
463  Hawthorne  Avenue, 
Yonkers,  N.  Y. 


Visitors  are  always  welcome. 


ovum?  6dx£I 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


RECEPTION  COTTAGE 


CENTRAL  BUILDING 


Report 

OF  THE 

Leake  and  Watts  Orphan  H 


HOMES 

Hawthorne  Avenue  and  New  York  City  Line 
Yonkers,  N.  Y. 
and 

Rose  Hill  Farm,  Tivoli,  N.  Y. 


EIGHTY  EIGHTH  YEAR 

1918 


Methods  of  Receiving  Children 


Children  between  six  and  twelve  years 
of  age  are  received  on  application  to  the 
Superintendent  or  by  commitment  from  the 
New  York  City  Department  of  Charities, 
or  from  a  County  Superintendent  of  the 
Poor  or  Commissioner  of  Charities  and 
Correction. 

A  limited  number  of  children  under  or 
over  the  above  ages  may  be  received  by 
special  arrangement,  on  application  to  the 
Superintendent. 


Historical  Sketch 


1831 — Act  of  Incorporation,  in  accordance  with  the  will 
of  John  George  Leake  and  through  the  co-operation  of 
his  brother-in-law,  John  Watts. 

Controlling  body — an  ex-officio  Board  of  Trustees  pro- 
vided for  in  the  will  of  John  George  Leake. 

1843 — The  first  home  opened  at  110th  Street,  New  York 
City. 

1884 — Alumni  Association  organized. 
1888— First  site  sold  to  the  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the 
Divine. 

1891 — Present  building  opened. 

1896 — Gymnasium  wing  and  girls'  annex  added,  largely 
through  generosity  of  Gen.  John  Watts  dePeyster. 

1905— Eose  Hill  Farm  at  Tivoli,  N.  Y.,  left  to  the  insti- 
tution by  Gen.  John  Watts  dePeyster. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


http://archive.org/details/reportofleakewatOOIeak 


Another  Year 


in  the 

Leake  and  Watts  Orphan  House 

The  Leake  and  Watts  Orphan  House  during  the  year 
1918  has  cared  for  the  largest  family  in  its  history.  So 
many  are  the  children  who  have  been  bereft  of  father  or 
mother,  or  both,  by  the  war  and  its  consequences  or  by 
the  influenza  epidemic,  that  like  other  institutions,  we 
have  been  almost  compelled  to  stretch  our  capacity  to 
its  utmost  limit.  To  do  this,  in  the  face  of  war  condi- 
tions, has  been,  as  every  one  will  readily  understand,  a 
heavy  strain  upon  our  resources. 

The  advances  in  price  of  almost  all  commodities  have 
been  so  great  from  month  to  month  that  not  even  with 
our  careful  system  have  we  always  been  able  to  keep 
within  our  monthly  budget.  As  we  look  back,  however, 
it  is  difficult  to  see  where  we  could  have  cut  down  without 
the  sacrifice  of  the  health,  the  happiness,  or  the  prepara- 
tion for  the  future  which  we  try  to  guarantee  the  children 
entrusted  to  us. 

Though  in  many  respects  the  past  year  has  undoubt- 
edly been  the  most  trying  in  the  history  of  the  home,  in 
the  life  of  the  boys  and  girls  it  would  seem  to  have  been 
one  of  the  very  best.  It  has  been  full  of  varied  and  un- 
usual experiences,  and  yet  the  normal  course  of  their 
lives  has  not  suffered.  They  have  worked  and  studied  as 
earnestly  and  played  as  vigorously  as  ever,  have  eaten 
heartily  and  have  spent  long  hours  in  sound  sleep.  Never 
has  our  family  as  a  whole  been  in  better  health  or  more 
contented  and  happy. 


5 


LEAKE  AND  WATTS 

PHYSICAL  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  CHILDREN 

One  does  not  live  long  among  boys  and  girls  without 
realizing  the  almost  paramount  importance  of  their 
health.  To  insure  a  happy  childhood  and  a  successful 
future  to  the  children  under  our  care,  we  realize  that  we 
must  start  them  with  as  perfect  bodies  as  possible.  Some 
of  our  children,  it  is  true,  come  directly  from  homes  of 
intelligent  and  proper  care,  homes  broken  only  by  death. 
Others  have  been  taken  from  amidst  deep  poverty  or 
from  parent  or  guardian  unworthy  of  the  name,  and  our 
task  is  then  not  merely  to  keep  them  well,  but  to  make 
them  healthy  and  strong.  Every  report  of  our  work  must, 
therefore,  begin  with  what  has  been  done  toward  physical 
development. 

In  the  past  year  29  children  upon  coming  to  us  have 
been  tested  for  and  fitted  to  glasses,  in  each  instance  by  a 
specialist,  making  47  at  present  wearing  glasses,  and, 
what  is  more,  wearing  them  as  directed,  thanks  to  the 
watchful  care  of  the  supervisors  and  teachers.  Adenoid 
and  tonsil  operations  have  been  performed  upon  16  chil- 
dren and  7  entering  with  old  cases  of  ear  trouble  have 
received  treatment  or  operation. 

That  we  have  our  own  dental  clinic  has  been  a  cause 
for  congratulation  during  the  past  year.  With  our  large 
family,  it  is  a  question  whether  the  work  could  have  been 
covered  in  any  other  way.  The  report  of  our  attending 
dentist  shows  79  first  sittings,  490  subsequent  sittings, 
84  examinations,  98  cleanings,  221  extractions,  57  treat- 
ments, 141  cement  and  252  amalgam  fillings,  13  root  canal 
fillings,  and  a  re-inspection  at  the  end  of  the  year  of  the 
teeth  of  all  the  children. 

In  the  corrective  classes  both  teacher  and  pupils  have 
again  put  forth  earnest  efforts  to  strengthen  weak  foot 
muscles,  straighten  bent  shoulders  and  broaden  narrow 
chests.  The  numbers  assigned  to  these  classes  show  the 
need  of  the  work.   Out  of  a  family  of  250  children,  over 


6 


ORPHAN  HOUSE 


200  have  been  enrolled  for  a  longer  or  shorter  period. 
Many  of  the  boys  and  girls  have  taken  such  interest  in 
their  exercises  that  the  improvement  in  their  appearance 
and  health  has  been  very  noticeable.  Several  cases  of 
foot  trouble  not  amenable  to  correction  by  exercises  have 
been  greatly  benefited  by  operation,  arch  supports,  or 
special  shoes,  as  the  case  required. 

The  past  months  we  have  paid  greater  attention  than 
ever  to  the  children's  diet.  Much  in  the  way  of  food  we 
have,  as  usual,  raised  ourselves,  especially  the  green 
vegetables,  in  which,  modern  science  tells  us,  so  much 
virtue  resides.  These  have  helped  to  give  variety  and  to 
balance  our  menus.  The  making  out  of  the  bill  of  fare 
is  no  easy  task,  so  many  things  have  to  be  taken  into 
account.  We  consider  the  likes  and  dislikes  of  the  chil- 
dren as  far  as  possible,  and  yet  we  try  to  teach  them  to 
eat  the  things  essential  to  health,  even  if  they  do  not  at 
first  fancy  them.  With  any  particular  child  our  troubles 
in  this  respect  are  usually  over  when  he  begins  to  realize 
the  connection  that  exists  between  his  food  and  his  phys- 
ical development. 

In  such  good  condition  were  our  children  last  fall  that 
we  had  hoped  to  escape  the  prevalent  influenza,  but,  in 
spite  of  rigid  precautions,  it  finally  reached  us,  though 
in  most  cases  not  in  a  severe  form.  We  regret  to  report, 
however,  that  we  lost  two  boys,  who  were  very  ill  from 
the  first.  The  other  children  recovered  rapidly  and  with 
no  serious  after-effects. 

As  some  indication  of  the  present  good  health  of  our 
family,  we  might  say  that  seldom,  if  ever,  have  we  had 
as  few  in  the  infirmary,  even  when  our  numbers  were 
considerably  smaller.  Moreover,  the  general  appear- 
ance of  the  children  has  never  been  better.  The  report 
of  the  first  re-weighing  in  the  new  year  is  most  encourag- 
ing, showing  an  average  gain  during  six  months  of  lYz 
pounds — our  highest  record. 


7 


LEAKE  AND  WATTS 

TRAINING  OF  MIND  AND  HAND 

First,  under  the  above  heading,  we  must  speak  of  our 
system  of  mental  testing,  as  it  continues  to  be  the  greatest 
help  in  determining  where  a  child  belongs  in  both  aca- 
demic and  vocational  work.  By  means  of  the  Stanford 
Eevision  of  the  Binet  Test  and  the  Yerkes  Point  Scale, 
each  child  is  tested  and  the  resulting  information  is  used 
as  a  guide  in  assigning  him  to  his  school  grade. 

If  a  child  coming  to  us  proves  to  be  decidedly  sub- 
normal, he  is  returned  to  those  responsible  for  him,  with 
a  full  report  of  the  results  of  all  examinations  and  with 
whatever  suggestions  we  are  able  to  make  in  his  case.  It 
is  hard  to  reject  any  child,  but,  in  justice  to  himself  and 
to  the  other  children,  we  cannot-  keep  one  who  either 
mentally  or  physically  needs  special  treatment  for  which 
we  have  no  facilities. 

In  the  case  of  a  child  found  to  be  retarded  only  two  or 
three  years,  every  effort  is  made  to  meet  his  condition 
and  he  is  re-tested  later.  Often  a  doubtful  case  will  be 
found  after  six  months'  sojourn  with  us  to  have  gained 
a  year  or  more  mentally,  which  fact  fully  establishes  his 
normality  and  shows  that  the  retardation  so  manifest  on 
admission  was  due  solely  to  outside  handicaps  and  not 
to  lack  of  ability. 

These  mental  tests  are  an  especial  help  to  us  in  ad- 
justing tho.se  children  who  really  belong  to  no  particular 
academic  grade,  and  who  must  be  especially  encouraged 
and  guided  if  they  are  to  obtain  the  simplest  rudiments 
of  an  every  day  education.  For  this  small  group  we 
have  had  this  past  year  what  we  call  our  Mixed  Primary 
Class,  under  the  leadership  of  a  teacher  who  by  training 
and  disposition  is  well  fitted  to  cope  with  the  divers  prob- 
lems presented  by  .such  children. 

In  this  Mixed  Primary  Class  are  found,  of  course, 
chiefly  those  children  who  on  account  of  mental  handicap 


8 


OUR  GRADUATING  CLASS 


M  A  X  TAL  TRAINING 


THE  PRINT  SHOP 


ORPHAN  HOUSE 


cannot  travel  far  along  life's  educational  highways,  but 
there  are  also  boys  and  girls  whose  mentality  is  at  least 
average,  as  their  tests  show  plainly,  but  who,  because  of 
lack  of  opportunities,  are  far  below  the  standard  of  aca- 
demic grading  for  their  age.  The  extra  help  afforded  by 
group  work  in  the  several  subjects  has  enabled  many  of 
this  latter  number  to  take  their  places  in  the  regular 
school  grades  after  a  few  weeks  or  months  in  the  Mixed 
Primary. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  school  year  an  extra 
class-room  and  equipment  was  added  to  our  educational 
department,  to  provide  for  the  increased  number  of 
pupils.  For  the  first  time  we  shall  have  in  June  a  grad- 
uating class  of  our  own.  The  organization  of  this  class 
has  been  a  pleasure  and  an  inspiration  to  us  all  and  we 
feel  that  from  Kindergarten  to  Eighth  Grade  we  have 
reason  to  be  proud  of  our  school. 

In  the  day's  schooling,  under  our  plan,  at  least  four 
hours  have  been  devoted  to  the  all-important  ' 1  Three 
RV,  while  free  and  supervised  play  periods  and  pre- 
vocational  work  also  have  had  their  place.  Our  super- 
vised evening  study  hour  for  the  higher  grades  we  have 
found  a  great  help  in  keeping  the  academic  work  up  to 
standard.  Since  our  last  report  9  pupils  have  made  such 
rapid  progress  that  they  have  been  advanced  a  half  year, 
while  three  have  skipped  an  entire  year.  This  past  term 
25%  have  been  on  the  honor  roll,  snowing  that  they  have 
attained  an  average  in  class-room  work  of  90%  or  more. 

In  manual  training  the  upper  grade  boys  have  spent 
not  less  than  four  hours  a  week,  and,  besides  shop  work, 
much  practical  carpentry  has  been  done  by  them  in  and 
around  the  building. 

The  printing  outfit  so  generously  given  by  the  Leake 
and  Watts  Alumni  Association  has  been  of  great  value 
to  the  children  vocationally,  as  well  as  to  the  institution 
financially.  Our  office  stationery  has  been  printed  by  the 


9 


LEAKE  AND  WATTS 


boys,  and,  in  addition,  they  have  recently  undertaken  the 
publication  of  a  four  page  monthly  paper,  which  chron- 
icles the  doings  of  both  children  and  staff.  That  this  work 
in  the  print  shop  is  not  without  its  commercial  value  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  several  boys  obliged  to  leave  us 
before  the  completion  of  their  Eighth  Grade  work  have 
been  able  to  obtain  creditable  positions  in  outside  print- 
ing offices. 

Gardening  has  again  been  part  of  the  training  of  the 
older  boys.  Our  horticulture  classes  have  proved  both 
interesting  and  instructive.  They  have  helped  to  provide 
many  of  the  vegetables  for  our  use,  also  plants  and 
flowers  to  brighten  the  dining-room  and  class-rooms. 

Our  pre-vocational  work  for  the  girls  has  included,  as 
before,  lessons  in  cooking  and  serving,  laundry  work, 
6ewing,  mending,  embroidering  and  crocheting.  The 
girls  have  also,  in  their  four-room  practice  apartment, 
been  taught  the  proper  care  of  a  home.  In  all  this  work, 
as  well  as  in  their  daily  tasks  about  the  house,  we  have 
tried  this  year,  even  more  than  ever  before,  to  harmonize 
theory  and  practical  application. 

We  must  not  fail  to  mention  our  High  School  pupils. 
As  in  former  years,  they  have  attended  the  Yonkers  High 
School.  Some  of  them  are  taking  advantage  of  the  excel- 
lent commercial  course  there  given  to  fit  themselves  for 
business  positions;  others  are  ambitiously  pursuing  the 
college  preparatory  course.  Great  was  our  surprise  and 
delight  last  June  when  two  of  our  boys  were  each  award- 
ed a  $1200.00  scholarship,  which  will  enable  them  after 
leaving  us  to  go  to  college,  for  the  full  four  years'  course, 
a  privilege  which  does  not  often  come  to  institution 
children. 

PATRIOTIC  SERVICE 

Before  the  end  of  the  war  the  stars  on  our  Alumni 
Service  Flag  numbered  between  eighty  and  ninety.  With 
nearly  all  the  boys  represented  by  these  stars  we  have 


16 


ORPHAN  HOUSE 


been  in  almost  constant  touch.  As  long  as  regulations 
permitted,  packages  containing  knit  goods,  candies,  and 
comforts  of  all  kinds  were  sent  to  both  those  abroad  and 
those  in  camp  in  this  country.  But  more  than  anything 
that  we  did  for  them,  we  count  what  they  did  for  us. 
Their  frequent  and  lengthy  letters  were  a  never  failing 
source  of  inspiration  to  both  staff  and  children;  their 
cheerfulness  and  courage  under  the  most  adverse  condi- 
tions made  us  feel  that  our  burdens  were  indeed  light 
compared  with  theirs. 

Many  of  these  boys  have  been  slightly  wounded,  a  few 
sleep  in  foreign  soil,  but  the  majority  are  coming  back 
to  us  in  the  best  of  health  and  spirits.  Those  already 
home  have  lost  no  time  in  visiting  the  institution,  even 
when  they  have  landed  in  other  ports  than  that  of  New 
York. 

Our  pride  in  the  boys  who  so  nobly  represented  us 
would  be  to  them  mere  empty  boasting,  if  they  did  not 
know  that  we  have  been  helping  here  at  home.  Over 
$6,000.00  worth  of  Liberty  Bonds  and  War  Savings 
Stamps  were  purchased  by  our  family  during  the  year. 
The  children's  real  share  in  this  amount  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  our  school  was  among  the  private  schools  of 
Westchester  County  to  be  on  the  Honor  Eoll  for  the  pur- 
chase of  War  Savings  Stamps,  our  pupils  having  reached 
a  per  capita  of  $10.05. 

In  all  of  the  Liberty  Loan  campaigns  our  Boy  Scouts 
were  most  active,  in  the  fourth  issue  selling  over  $12,- 
000.00  worth  of  bonds.  Our  Girl  Scout  Troop,  as  a  unit 
of  the  Yonkers  branch  of  the  Girls'  Patriotic  Service 
League,  last  spring  had  a  place  in  one  of  the  great  Red 
Cross  parades,  and  in  the  early  fall  took  part  in  an  his- 
torical pageant  given  to  arouse  enthusiasm  for  the  Red 
Cross  drive. 

Patriotic  service  also  might  be  called  the  gardening 
and  canning  done  by  the  children  in  their  vocational 


11 


LEAKE  AND  WATTS 


classes.  Last  season  they  surpassed  their  record  of  the 
year  before,  putting  away  no  less  than  9000  quarts  of 
vegetables  and  fruits,  canned  or  dried. 

RECREATION 

If  under  the  children's  recreation  we  include  both  their 
play  and  their  social  activities,  the  year  would  seem  to 
have  been  remarkably  full  of  pleasure  and  interest. 

Organized  sports  have  again  claimed  a  large  share 
of  the  free  time  of  the  older  boys.  They  have  played 
baseball  during  the  summer  months  among  themselves 
and  with  neighboring  school  and  Scout  teams.  In  the 
winter  our  fine  gymnasium  has  given  them  as  usual  an 
easy  excellence  in  basket  ball.  At  present  our  first  team 
is  engaged  in  a  series  of  contests  with  the  different  Scout 
units  of  Yonkers  and  bids  fair,  as  always,  to  do  us  credit. 

Our  older  girls  have  also  been  enthusiastic  over  bas- 
ketball. A  picked  girls'  team  recently  played  the  second 
team  of  the  boys,  coming  out  with  a  tie.  Like  the  boys, 
they  have  taken  long  walks  and  have  been  initiated  into 
some  of  the  charms  of  woodcraft  and  outdoor  cooking. 
For  the  stormy  holiday  or  the  spare  moment  there  has 
always  been  a  piano  available  or  a  book  or  game  at  hand. 

The  younger  children  have  had,  as  in  other  years,  their 
daily  periods  of  supervised  play,  and  time  besides  to  be 
together  or  alone,  as  they  might  choose,  with  their  own 
games  and  their  own  toys. 

We  encourage  all  the  children  to  spend  as  much  of  their 
play  time  as  possible  out  of  doors,  and  this  past  year  they 
have  responded  even  more  willingly  than  usual.  Never 
have  individual  gardens,  .swings,  see-saws,  marbles,  kites, 
been  more  attractive.  Coasting,  too,  was  most  popular, 
when  we  had  such  snow  as  fell  in  the  early  months  of  1918. 
Anxious  as  was  that  winter  for  the  grown-ups,  for  a 
healthy,  active  child  it  was  in  many  ways  ideal. 

Last  summer  a  number  of  our  older  boys  went  to  our 


12 


GJRL  SCOUTS 


BASKET  BALL 


ORPHAN  HOUSE 


farm  at  Tivoli-on-Hudson,  where  they  did  good  work  and 
had  plenty  of  boating  and  swimming  besides.  The  chance 
to  go  to  the  farm  is  always  greatly  coveted,  so  attractive 
is  the  place. 

For  the  children  here  we  had  a  new  source  of  pleasure 
— a  motor  boat,  which  was  loaned  them  for  the  summer. 
In  this,  different  groups  went  across  the  river  for  all 
day  picnics,  and  one  party  with  the  Superintendent  made 
the  trip  to  Tivoli.  We  had  hoped  to  take  some  of  the 
older  boys  and  possibly  the  older  girls  camping,  but  the 
necessary  curtailment  in  many  places  of  such  privileges 
because  of  the  proximity  of  the  great  military  camps 
made  this  impossible.  Perhaps  another  summer  we  may 
be  able  to  realize  for  the  children  this  cherished  dream. 

Scattered  throughout  the  year  we  have  had  a  number 
of  different  entertainments,  prepared  by  the  children 
themselves  or  furnished  by  outside  friends,  and  have 
listened  to  stirring  talks  on  patriotism  and  kindred  pres- 
ent-day topics.  The  literary  society  has  done  the  most 
serious  work  in  its  history,  at  one  of  the  meetings  this 
winter  attempting  the  first  formal  debate.  Our  weekly 
piano  classes,  conducted  by  a  teacher  from  the  New  York 
Music  School  Settlement,  have  again  been  a  source  of 
delight  to  those  privileged  to  attend. 

During  the  year  the  older  boys  and  girls  have  met  in 
several  social  gatherings,  while  on  Washington's  Birth- 
day, Hallowe'en,  and  other  special  occasions,  different 
groups  of  our  large  family  have  held  their  own  parties. 
Our  moving  picture  machine  on  many  a  Saturday  evening 
has  provided  both  amusement  and  instruction. 

Christmas  was,  of  course,  a  wonderful  time  for  the 
children,  and  for  all  of  us  in  fact,  so  recently  had  the 
cloud  of  war  been  lifted  from  the  world.  Not  a  child  was 
forgotten  in  Santa  Claus'  visit,  those  who  had  no  rel- 
atives to  remind  him  of  them  being  put  on  his  list  by  a 
new  friend  of  the  home. 


13 


LEAKE  AND  WATTS 


An  unusual  treat  was  the  Christmas  dinner  which 
about  fifty  of  our  older  boys  and  girls  enjoyed  on  board 
of  one  of  the  great  army  transports  while  it  was  in  har- 
bor. Their  hosts,  the  officers  and  sailors,  spared  no  pains 
to  make  the  day  instructive  and  delightful  to  their  young 
guests,  even  providing  a  tree  ladened  with  remarkably 
well  chosen  gifts.  During  the  Christmas  recess  two 
groups  of  boys  and  girls  had  the  keen  pleasure  of  going 
to  the  Hippodrome,  through  the  kindness  of  generous 
friends  of  the  institution. 

Other  interesting  experiences  of  the  children  during  the 
year  have  been  mentioned  in  the  report  of  their  patriotic 
service.  Aside  from  the  pleasure  derived  by  our  boys 
and  girls  from  their  patriotic  work,  we  feel  that  it  has 
been  a  great  advantage  to  them  to  have  associated  with  so 
many  people  in  so  many  different  ways.  It  has  been  an 
education  in  national  affairs,  business  methods  and  social 
usages,  which  will  be  of  inestimable  value  to  them  in  the 
years  to  come. 

CHARACTER  FORMING 

In  the  very  nature  of  things  this  part  of  our  work  is 
more  difficult  to  report  than,  for  example,  the  physical 
development  of  the  children,  which  can  be  judged  in 
terms  of  inches  and  pounds,  of  color  and  appetite.  Our 
conduct  chart  furnishes  some  help,  it  is  true,  and  yet  it  is 
necessarily  an  uncertain  gauge.  The  happy  spirit  of  the 
children,  their  friendly  attitude  toward  each  other  and 
toward  those  who  care  for  and  teach  them,  the  cheerful 
way  in  which  they  perform  their  duties  in  the  class-room 
and  about  the  house  and  in  which  they  accept  the  little 
responsibilities  placed  upon  them,  these  are  perhaps  the 
real  indications  of  the  fine  character  of  our  boys  and  girls 
taken  together  as  a  family. 

In  judging  the  character  development  of  the  individual 
child,  we  try  to  remember  that  all  lasting  growth  is  slow. 
It  is  only  when  we  ,stop  to  think  back  that  we  realize,  often 


14 


ORPHAN  HOUSE 


with  surprise,  what  great  improvement  has  been  made; 
how  the  marring  trait  in  one  child  has  gradually  disap- 
peared, and,  in  another,  the  good  qualities  have  become 
more  firmly  established. 

The  religious  training  in  the  home  is  intensely  prac- 
tical. In  our  daily  assembly  before  the  school  hour,  the 
few  verses  of  the  Bible  read,  the  hymn  sung,  and  the 
short  prayer  offered,  are  all  within  the  children's  under- 
standing, and  the  word  of  warning  or  encouragement 
added  touches  always  their  daily  life. 

On  Sundays,  our  olders  boys  and  girls  have  the  addi- 
tional inspiration  of  worshipping  with  others  in  the 
morning  service  of  the  neighboring  churches  of  several 
denominations,  in  one  of  which  a  group  of  our  boys  con- 
stitutes the  choir.  For  the  benefit  of  the  smaller  children 
we  have  in  the  afternoon  a  short  Sunday  school  session. 

This  work  of  character  moulding,  however  quietly  and 
slowly  it  goes  on,  is,  in  the  last  analysis,  our  most  im- 
portant task.  Especially  in  this  day,  what  greater  work 
can  any  of  us  do  for  his  country  and  for  the  world  at 
large  than  to  help  the  children  to  grow  up  into  men  and 
women  who,  in  some  measure  at  least,  have  the  vision  of 
the  helpful  Christian  life? 

AFTER-CARE 

Our  boys  in  service  have  received  perhaps  more  of  our 
attention  during  the  past  year  than  have  the  other  boys 
or  girls  who  have  passed  out  of  our  immediate  care.  But 
it  has  been  the  other  alumni,  in  their  splendid  association, 
who  have  stood  back  of  the  home  financially  in  what  we 
have  tried  to  do  for  our  soldier  and  sailor  boys.  This 
work  has,  therefore,  been  more  far-reaching  than  would 
appear  at  first  sight. 

As  in  previous  years,  we  have  attempted  to  aid  the 
boys  and  girls  needing  positions  and  those  capable  of 
filling  better  places  than  they  at  present  hold.    In  this 


15 


LEAKE  AND  WATTS 

again  the  Alumni  Association  has  been  of  the  greatest 
assistance.  The  Association  has  also,  in  several  instan- 
ces, paid  a  small  benefit  to  help  tide  a  member  over  a  dis- 
tressful period,  caused  by  illness  or  other  unlooked-for 
trouble. 

We  always  welcome  to  the  old  home  at  Thanksgiving 
and  Christmas  our  former  boys  and  girls  who  have  no 
stronger  ties.  Every  Fourth  of  July  these  and  a  hundred 
or  more  others,  some  of  them  now  accompanied  by  their 
families,  take  possession  of  the  place.  Already  the  boys 
returning  are  talking  of  the  glorious  reunion  there  will 
be  this  coming  Fourth,  when  all  are  back  from  over-seas. 

The  old  boys  and  girls  not  only  show  a  kindly  regard 
for  each  other,  but,  by  way  of  appreciation  of  what  has 
been  done  for  them  by  the  home,  manifest  an  active  in- 
terest in  those  who  have  taken  their  places.  Last  June, 
at  our  school  closing,  one  of  the  alumni,  now  a  successful 
business  man,  offered  $100.00  in  prizes  for  the  year  to 
come  for  excellence  and  for  improvement  in  deportment, 
vocational  work  and  scholarship.. 

Relevant  here,  perhaps,  is  a  recent  interesting  hap- 
pening in  connection  with  our  records.  We  received  a 
letter  not  long  since  from  a  man  who  left  the  home  forty- 
two  years  ago,  asking  if  we  could  give  him  any  informa- 
tion which  might  put  him  in  touch  with  his  possible  living 
kin.  As  our  back  files  had  been  carefully  gone  over  a  few 
years  ago,  we  were  able  to  give  him  a  brief  account  of 
the  circumstances  of  his  admission  to  the  home,  with  the 
names  of  his  then  living  relatives.  We  hope  that  only 
good  may  come  to  him  and  to  others  in  the  possible  resul- 
tant knitting  up  of  old  ties. 

We  might  add  that  quite  recently  our  record  system 
has  been  greatly  enlarged,  so  that  much  more  varied 
information  in  regard  to  the  children  now  with  us  is  being 
gathered  and  will  be  available  to  them  in  the  years  to 
come. 


1G 


ORPHAN  HOUSE 


Though  in  no  sense  under  our  care  after  they  have 
been  legally  adopted,  yet  we  should  make  some  mention 
of  those  for  whom  during  the  year  we  have  found  new 
homes.  Nothing  in  our  field  of  labor  gives  us  greater 
pleasure  than  the  placing-out  work,  but  its  scope  is  lim- 
ited by  the  small  number  of  children  eligible  for  adoption. 
Requests  coming  almost  daily  from  childless  homes  have 
to  be  regretfully  refused,  because,  even  in  our  large 
family,  very  few  are  without  ties  which  hold  legally.  It 
has  been  our  good  fortune,  however,  this  past  year,  to 
see  six  children  go  out  from  us  to  bring  joy  to  the  hearts 
of  some  of  those  who  have  longed  for  a  little  one  whom 
they  might  call  their  own. 

MATERIAL  IMPROVEMENTS  IN  THE  HOME 
AND  PLANS  FOR  THE  FUTURE 

Many  hoped-for  changes  in  and  additions  to  our  plant 
have  naturally  been  postponed  on  account  of  war  condi- 
tions. A  few  improvements,  however,  seemed  imperative 
this  last  year.  For  the  sake  of  the  health  and  greater 
comfort  of  our  increasing  number  of  boys,  especially  in 
the  winter  months,  a  sitting-room  for  them,  both  warm 
and  airy,  was  much  needed.  This  we  arrived  at  by  par- 
titioning off  a  sunny  corner  of  their  unusually  large  play- 
room. The  new  room  is  the  pride  of  the  boys  and  has 
been  one  of  the  great  factors,  we  believe,  in  their  remark- 
able cheerfulness  and  health. 

To  help  solve  the  problem  of  proper  food  for  the  chil- 
dren at  the  minimum  of  expense,  we  early  in  the  year 
installed  a  brick  bake  oven. 

Some  new  equipment  proved  absolutely  necessary  in 
the  sewing-room,  to  meet  the  demands  of  our  larger 
family.  This  has  enabled  us  to  manufacture  more  of  the 
children's  clothing  than  heretofore,  thus  giving  us  more 
durable  garments,  besides  making  possible  even  further 
variety. 


17 


LEAKE  AND  WATTS 


Here  and  there  throughout  the  year  little  repairs  and 
improvements  have  been  made  about  the  home  by  the 
boys,  under  their  manual  training  teacher,  but  these  have 
involved  no  great  expense. 

We  hope  that  some  day  we  may  have  our  long  talked-of 
cottages  for  the  girls.  We  realize  that  although  the  con- 
gregate institution  has  for  boys  many  advantages  over 
the  cottage  system,  the  ideal  for  girls  is  the  smaller  home, 
where  their  most  natural  training  for  life  is  more  prop- 
erly found.  This  change  would  be  a  gain  in  other  ways, 
giving  the  younger  boys  the  girls '  side  of  the  building  and 
leaving  us  additional  places  for  older  boys,  for  whom 
many  organizations  find  it  difficult  to  provide. 

Another  plan  perhaps  more  within  the  bounds  of  pos- 
sibility at  present  is  the  utilization  for  boys'  work  of  our 
farm  at  Tivoli-on-Hudson.  We  have  used  the  property 
hitherto  chiefly  as  a  vacation  home,  although  the  past  few 
summers  we  have  made  the  land  produce  considerable 
food  for  winter  use  here.  But  in  the  face  of  the  great 
and  growing  need,  it  would  seem  that  there  also  we  should 
have  a  year-round  work.  So  many  desirable  features 
already  has  the  house  and  its  surroundings  that  whatever 
might  now  be  expended  upon  them  would  have  immedi- 
ate results.  A  few  thousand  dollars  would  convert  the 
place  into  an  attractive,  comfortable  home-school  for 
thirty  boys,  whom  we  would  otherwise  be  obliged  to 
refuse. 

CONCLUSION 

In  closing,  we  wish  to  express  our  thanks  to  those 
whose  contributions  and  gifts  during  this  difficult  year 
have  helped  to  relieve  our  anxieties  or  have  added  to  the 
efficiency  of  our  work  or  to  the  pleasure  of  the  children. 
A  word  of  appreciation  is  due  also  to  the  hospitals  and 
clinics  in  Yonkers  and  New  York  City  where  our  boys 
and  girls  needing  operation  or  special  treatment  have 
received  such  careful  attention  and  unfailing  kindess. 


18 


WOODS  AT  ROSE  HILL 


Expenditure  and  Income  Account 

Year  Ending  December  31,  1918 

EXPENDITURE 

Maintenance  and  Care  of  Household : 


Provisions   $22,966.58 

House  Supplies,  etc   2,371.79 

School  Supplies,  Stationery,  Books,  etc   1,271.00 

Recreation,  etc   433.67 

Clothing  and  Shoes    6,364.77 

Physicians,  Medical  Supplies,  Dentistry    2,122.52 

Tivoli  Sundry  Expenses    629.54  $36,159.87 


Outside  Boarding  Charges    138.30 

Salaries  and  Wages : 

Superintendent,  Principal.  Secretary, 

Housekeeper   $  4,134.00 

Teachers   4,325.38 

Nurses,  Supervisors,  Seamstresses, 

House  Wages,  etc   17,951.09  26,410.47 


Upkeep  of  House  and  Grounds,  etc.: 

Garden  and  Grounds— Yonkers   $  287.76 

Garden  and  Grounds — Tivoli    223.69 

Stable  .   1.879.91 

Furnishings  and  Bedding    3,381.41 

Repairs  to  Buildings    5.199.64 

Insurance    726.28 

Taxes,  etc   30.00  11,728.69 


Heat,  Light  and  Water    11,781.45 

Administration  Expenses,  etc. 

Telephone,  Traveling,  Postage,  Typewriting  and 

Professional  Services,  etc.  etc   1.897.10 


$88,115.88 

INCOME 

Interest  and  Rents  from  Securities  and  Property  $35,282.48 

Grants  and  Contributions  from  Public  Authorities..  36,687.97 


Donations,  etc   3,784.88 

Contributions — Parents  and  Guardians    6,489.85 

Sales  at  Institution    267.83  $82,513.01 


Deficit  for  the  Year    $  5,602.87 


We  hare  audited  the  accounts  of  The  Leake  &  Watts  Orphan  House  in 
the  City  of  New  York  for  the  year  ending  December  31,  1918,  and  hereby 
certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a  true  statement  of  the  transactions  stated. 

Patterson-,  Tkblh  &  Dbnnis, 

May  8,  1919.  Accountants  and  Auditors. 

19 


Contributions 

1918 


Andreas,  Mrs.  Mabel  5.00 

Anonymous  5.00 

Anonymous  5.00 

Applebee,  F.  J.  50.00 

Averbeck,  M.  J.  5.00 

Aycrigg,  Miss  Kate  5.00 

Battle,  Geo.  G.  2.00 

Beach,  Mrs.  Rex  10.00 

Berlin,  H.  C.  5.00 

Best,  H.  D.  10.00 

Best,  Dr.  &  Mrs.  W.  N.  10.00 

Buck,  Mrs.  Julia  F.  5.00 

Butler,  Mrs.  Mary  R.  10.00 

Cahen,  I.  J.  5.00 
Cammann,  H.  H.  (for 

pathescope)  247.50 

Candee,  Mrs.  Lyman  10.00 

Chapman,  Henry  S.  20.00 
Through  Central  Nat.  Bank 

of  Cleveland,  O.  10.00 

Choate,  Mrs.  Jos.  H.  25.00 

Clarke,  Roger  H.  10.00 

Clausen,  Mrs.  Geo.  U.  5.00 

Courtney,  Miss  Bertha  F.  1.00. 

Davis,  Lee  Parsons  10.00 

Daw,  Mrs.  Emily  L.  5.00 

Deeves,  Richard  10.00 

Dix,  Mrs.  John  A.  25.00 

Dodge,  Cleveland  H.  100.00 

Dutton,  Edw.  P.  10.00 

Eickelberg,  August  25.00 

Emmett,  Miss  Lydia  F.  5.00 

Ferguson  Bros.  75.00 

Francis,  Dr.  Lewis  5.00 

Fridenberg,  Robt.  10.00 

Frueauff,  Frank  W.  10.00 

Gillies,  Edwin  J.  5.00 

Gould,  Edwin  1,000.00 

Greeff,  Bernard,  Jr.  45.00 

Haines,  Chas.  D.  10.00 

Hague,  A.  J.  10.00 

Hamersley,  L.  Gordon  25.00 

Harding,  Miss  Caroline  5.00 

Harkness,  Edw.  W.  150.00 

Harrington,  Mrs.  J.  W.  5.00 

Hayden,  Mrs.  Peter  20.00 

Hewitt,  Miss  Eleanor  G.  5.00 

Hoyt,  Miss  Gertrude  L.  5.00 

Hyde,  Miss  Mabel  L.  25.00 

Hyde,  Mrs.  Clarence  M.  50.00 


Ulmensee,  George  2.00 

Innis,  Mrs.  Wm.  R.  10.00 

Jackson,  Mrs.  Geo.  T.  10.00 

Jackson,  S.  Y.  5.00 

Jahn,  Mrs.  Gustave  5.00 

Jenkins,  A.  W.  10.00 

Johnson,  Isaac  G.  &  Co.  25.00 

Keeling,  Mrs.  Wheldon  10.00 

Lavelle,  Rev.  M.  J.  10.00 

Lawrence,  J.  J.  3.Q0 

Lyon,  Chas.  O.  5.00 

McCutcheon,  James  &  Co.  20.00 

McKenney,  H.  P.  &  Co.  10.00 

McLean,  Miss  Ethel  L.  25.00 

MacLean,  Mrs.  Chas.  F.  10.00 

Maguire,  Mrs.  J.  P.  25.00 

Marburg,  Mrs.  T.  H.  3.00 

Milliken,  John  B.  25.00 

Morrison,  Wm.  A.  10.00 

Muller,  Frederick  10.00 

Nichols,  Wm.  H.  50.00 

Noble,  Raymond  G.  5.00 
Northrop,  Miss  Catherine  R.  10.00 

Noyes,  Chas.  F.  15.00 

Openhym,  Mrs.  Wm.  3.00 

Opdyke,  Mrs.  Emerson  5.00 

Page,  W.  H.  10.00 

Peck,  Miss  Lilian  5.00 

Pell,  Rev.  Alfred  Duane  10.00 

Penfold,  Edmund  25.00 

Perkins,  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  25.00 

Peters,  Mrs.  Theo.  L.  25.00 

Porter,  Mrs.  Frank  B.  10.00 

Post,  Abram  S.  10.00 

Post,  James  H.  250.00 

Prizer,  Edw.  10.00 

Reid,  Wallace  10.00 

Rein,  John  1.00 

Reisinger,  Mrs.  H.  10.00 

Rhodes,  W.  W.  2.00 

Riker,  Wm.  J.  10.00 

Robbins,  Miss  Harriet  L.  5.00 
Rockefeller,  Mrs.  John 

D.,  Jr.  25.00 

Rockwood,  Miss  Katharine  C.  5.00 

Root,  Mrs.  Paul  Ward  10.00 

Ross,  P.  H.  W.  5.00 

Rowe,  Garvin  5.00 

Sachs,  Dr.  Barney  10.00 


20 


CONTRIBUTIONS  (Continued) 


1918 


Sanders,  Miss  Josie  2.00 

Sawyer,  Mrs.  Homer  E.  3.00 

Schwartz,  Jos.  3.00 

Scott,  Miss  M.  Evelyn  150.00 

Scott,  Robt.  25.00 

Scoville,  Mrs.  E.  H.  10.00 

Seeman  Bros.  25.00 

Seymour,  H.  T.  5.00 

Sexton,  Geo.  W.  10.00 

Sheldon,  Mrs.  Edwin  B.  5.00 

Sloane,  Henry  T.  20.00 

Smith  .Pierre  J.  10.00 
Smith,  Miss  Josephine  C.  10.00 

Steele,  Charles  50.00 

Steinmetz,  Harry  15.00 

Strauss,  Chas.  25.00 

Sturges,  W.  W.  20.00 

Terry,  Mrs.  John  T.  50.00 

Terry,  Wyllys  5.00 

Tiemann,  Mrs.  Ella  A.  10.00 

Tifft  Bros.  10.00 
Tobey,  Miss  Elizabeth  W.  5.00 

Tobey,  O.  H.  15.00 

Todd,  W.  Parsons  20.00 

Towne,  J.  H.  15.00 

Tyrrell,  Dr.  Chas.  A.  10.00 

Van  Winkle,  Edgar  B.  2.00 

Wagnalls,  Miss  Mabel  5.00 

Wanamaker,  John  5.00 


Wandling,  James  L.  10.00 

Ward,  Chas.  P.  &  Son  10.00 

Ward,  Arteinus  25.00 

Ward,  Harry  E.  25.00 

Warren,  Mrs.  J.  Kearney  10.00 

Watson,  Arthur  W.  20.00 

Watts,  Mrs.  Martin  S.  1.00 

Webster,  J.  S.  20.00 

Weeks,  Dr.  John  E.  10.00 

Westervelt,  Wm.  Y.  10.00 
Whitehouse,  Mrs.  J.  Henry  5.00 

Wiesendanger,  Ulrieh  5.00 

Willets,  Mrs.  Amelia  10.00 

Williams,  Frank  B.  10.00 

Winkaus,  A.  C.  5.00 

Wolff,  Mrs.  Jacob  10.00 

Wollman,  Henry  1.00 

Yuille,  T.  B.  10.00 

Zorn,  Mrs.  J.  T.  5.00 

Donation  for  Candy  5.00 

Christmas  Fund : 

Agnew,  Austin  A.  10.00 

Harding,  Miss  Caroline  1.00 
Sullivan,  Mrs.  Susan  E.  15.00 

Gould,  Edwin  50.00 

Interest  credited  by  Trust 

Co.  on  balances,  52.38 


FOR  OUR  BOYS  IN  MILITARY  SERVICE 

Leake  and  Watts  Association  $58.00 
James  Henry  20.00 
Mrs.  Andrew  Peck  and  Mrs.  R.  B.  Bowdish  5  Hand-knit  Sweaters 

5     "      "  Helmets 


OTHER  GIFTS 


Arnold,  Mrs.  Hicks 
Davis  &  Voetsch 
Howland,  Mrs.  Geo.  F. 
Orne,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Pitt,  Mrs.  F. 
Wickershap,  G.  W. 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  54th  St. 


Clothing 
Box  of  Toys 
Clothing 
Scrapbook 
Books 

Box  of  Toys 

48  lbs.  Buckwheat  Flotn 


21 


Board  of  Trustees 
i  9  i  8 

John  F.  Hylan  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York 

William  T.  Manning,  D.D         Eector  of  Trinity  Church 

Richard  Delafield  1     w  c  m  .        ™  , 

tj  rj   ^  Wardens  of  Trinity  Church 

Hermann  H.  Cammann  )  J 

David  James  Burrell,  D.D. 

Senior  Minister  of  the  Collegiate  Dutch  Church 

Howard  Duffield,  D.D. 

Minister  First  Presbyterian  Church 

Officers  of  Board 

Howard  Duffield,  D.D.  President 

John  A.  Dix  Treasurer* 

James  Henry  Treasurer  Pro  Tern 

William  A.  Kirk  Clerk 

Leake  and  Watts  Alumni  Association 

John  E.  Gait  President 

Arthur  Wilson  First  Vice-President 

Edward  Jayne  Second  Vice-President 

George  J.  Hunt  Recording  Secretary 

William  Tresselt  Corresponding  Secretary 

William  Bal  Treasurer 

Trustees  of  Association 

William  Bal 
Henry  Brownlee 
George  J.  Hunt 


*  Absent  on  military  service. 


22 


Officers  and  Teachers 
i  9  i  8 —  i  9  i  9 

Albert  S.  McClain  Superintendent 

J.  B.  Kouwenhoven.  M.D.  Attending  Physician 
S.  R.  Rosenbaum,  D.D.S.  Attending  Dentist 

Miss  Mary  A.  Berns  Principal 
Miss  Hilma  P.  Holmes  Secretary 
Mrs.  Carrie  B.  Watts  Clerk 

Teachers 

Miss  Mabel  Ackroyd  Miss  Madeline  J.  Relyea 

Miss  Mabel  F.  Lane  Miss  Olive  C.  Kittell 

Miss  N.  Evelyn  Scholl  Miss  Irma  C.  Hawkins 

Miss  Elizabeth  Abrams  Kindergarten  &  Gymnastics 

Miss  Lena  R.  Cates  Household  Arts 

Miss  Mabel  J.  Timmins  Piano  Classes 

A.  J.  Hall  Manual  Training 

S.  L.  Staples  Printing 

P.  Woods  (Acting)  Horticulture 

Heads  of  House  Departments 

Mrs.  Ermina  Scofield  Managing  Housekeeper 

Miss  Helen  B.  Ridgely,  R.N.  Head  Nurse 

Miss  Luella  J.  Cooley  Head  of  Sewing  Room 

J.  P.  Porter  Steward 

Children's  Supervisors 

S.  L.  Staples  ^ 

Miss  Catherine  Gracey  >  Boys 
Miss  Mabel  S.  Wright  J 

Miss  Florence  M.  Beaven  Girls 
Miss  Emma  J.  Taylor  Reception  Cottage 

Mrs.  Lily  H.  Miller  Riverview  Cottage 

Miss  Cora  Dobson  Special  Cottage 

Manager,  Tivoli  Farm 
E.  Drury 


23 


Statistics  of  Children 

Boys  Girls  Total 


Number  in  Home, 


January  1,  1918  

155 

70 

225 

Number  admitted 

during  the  year  

58 

51 

109 

213 

121 

334 

Number  discharged 

during  the  year  

30 

50 

80 

Number  in  Home 

December  31,  1918.  . 

.  .  183 

71 

254 

Urgent  Needs 

A  larger  Dining  Boom  at  Riverview 
Cottage. 

Necessary  Equipment  to  make  "Rose 
Hill"  at  Tivoli-on-Hudson  a  permanent 
farm-home-school  for  30  boys. 

Additional  Endowment  to  enable  us  to 
care  for  a  larger  number  of  children. 


24 


Form  of  Bequest  and  Devise 


Personal  Estate 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  ' '  The  Trustees  of  the  Leake  and 
Watts  Orphan  House  in  the  City  of  New  York"  the  sum 
of  Dollars 

Real  Estate 

I  give  and  devise  to  "The  Trustees  of  the  Leake  and 
Watts  Orphan  House  in  the  City  of  New  York"  my  real 
property  at 
known  as 


Information  on  this  subject  will  be  gladly  furnished  by 
William  A.  Kirk,  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
Counsel  to  the  Corporation,  32  Liberty  Street,  New 
York  City.    Tel.  John  107. 

Checks  should  be  drawn  payable  to  James  Henky, 
Treasurer  pro  tern.,  262  Greene  Street,  New  York  City. 


ERLB  W.  WHITFIELD 
NEW  YORK 


